Water discoloration - care to settle an argument?

Posted by teelamaria on May 07, 2003 at 19:40:40:

Me and my husband are having a dialouge about what coould be causing a brownish-yellow discoloration of my tank.
Tank is 15 gallons with undergravel filter, and power filter.
Substrate is river stones. Have slate in tank for coverage, height variation. 2 small pieces of driftwood. 3-4 live plants.
Critters inside: 1 Honk Kong Horny-skin Newt, 2 1" black-clawed albino frogs, 2 freshwater snails, 1 beta, 3-4 guppies (hoping newt will eat these).

I cleaned out the tank over the weekend, filled with spring water, everything looked great. I did get this new piece of driftwood, which has dark coloration - I am concerned I didnt soak it as long as I should have.

My hubby thinks it is the plants that are causing the discoloration.

I think it is the driftwood.

Any suggestions on how I can clear this up? Will my power filter eventually get it or do I have put in all new water?
If it is the driftwood (think it was Somalian wood or something, not the regular bleached-out looking wood), will it always bleed into the water?

and most important - IS THIS HARMFUL TO MY CRITTERS? I ahve been watching my newts behavior and is seems fine, isnt using my terreserial portion of the tank to escape water qulaity, eating well etc.

HELP!!

Thank you

Follow Ups:

• Water discoloration - care to settle an argument? ginevive 05/13/03 (1)
  • about the wood... ginevive 05/13/03 (0)
• It's the new driftwood. Colchicine 05/07/03 (6)
  • forgive my ignorance, but.. jsm 05/08/03 (2)
    • forgive my ignorance, but.. EdK 05/08/03 (1)
      • ahhhhh, learn somethin' new everyday. thanks. jsm 05/10/03 (0)
  • It's the new driftwood. teelamaria 05/08/03 (2)
    • It's the new driftwood. jennewt 05/08/03 (0)
    • Mixing frogs and newts. Colchicine 05/08/03 (0)

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[ Follow Ups ] [ Salamander and Newt Forum ]

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